The MeidasTouch Podcast Ben Smith Discusses Trump’s Collapse in 2026
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Feb 18, 2026 
Ben Smith, journalist and Semafor co-founder who hosts Mixed Signals, unpacks Trump’s rapid political slide. He discusses international ridicule, polling shocks, and why independents are peeling away. He traces how raw videos and Epstein revelations pierced narratives and compares this collapse to past presidential backlashes.
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Global Mockery Reflects Political Decline
- International mockery of Donald Trump signals a broader reputational collapse beyond U.S. borders.
- Ben Meiselas highlights Dusseldorf carnival floats and public ridicule as visible signs of Trump's decline.
Polling Shows Voter Shifts Away From Trump
- Reweighted polls show Kamala Harris would beat Trump by sizable margins in a redo, indicating shifting voter sentiment.
- Ben Meiselas notes Democrats' base remains more loyal to congressional candidates than Trump voters are to Republicans.
Independents And Nonvoters Tilt Democrats' Way
- Independents and nonvoters are swinging toward Democrats, which could matter for the 2026 midterms.
- Ben Meiselas emphasizes that turnout and independent shifts compound the Democrats' advantage.